Table of Contents Chapter 1 Prenatal Care What to eat, drink, and do Birth support and delivery Preparing for baby’s arrival Chapter 2 Health Keeping yourself healthy Parent Handbook Keeping your baby healthy Finding a healthcare provider for your baby Healthy baby growth Illness Prenatal - 12 months Chapter 3 Safety At home Out and about Chapter 4 Infant Care Soothing a crying baby Feeding and nutrition Baby grooming Sleeping Chapter 5 Development Introduction to development Physical development Cognitive development Social-emotional development Language development Activities to promote development 1 Welcome! Chapter 1 Prenatal Care You have accepted one of life’s greatest challenges — raising a healthy and well-adjusted child. During the next few years, your baby will grow and develop • What to eat, drink, and do more dramatically than during any other stage in life. • Birth support and delivery This handbook will discuss different ways to meet your baby’s needs through: • Preparing for baby’s arrival • Making sure your baby gets regular health care, immunizations, and nutrition • Providing a safe and stimulating environment • Nurturing and interacting in special ways to meet your Get all these tips and more, baby’s needs and aid their development targeted to the age of your child, sent right to your cell phone for free 2-5 times a week. Research shows that growth and learning in the first three years make text a difference for success in school and throughout the rest of your baby’s life. BRIGHT to 274448 brightbytext.org Your information will never be sold or used for advertising. Msg & data rates apply. Text STOP to 274448 to stop. Text HELP to 274448 for help. 2 3 What to eat, drink, and do Calorie needs during pregnancy Calorie needs in pregnancy are different for every woman. Nutrition during pregnancy Talk with your healthcare provider about the calorie intake that is healthiest for you. • Eat a well-balanced diet that is high in vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, and grain • Most women don’t need to change their calorie intake in the products. first trimester. • Always rinse raw produce (fruits and vegetables) • Most women will need to eat an extra 340-450 calories a day before eating. in the second and third trimesters. • Limit fish and shellfish intake to 12 ounces a week. Fish and Weight gain during pregnancy shellfish are natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which Healthy weight gain is unique to each woman. You should talk can help with baby’s brain development. However, certain with your healthcare provider about the healthiest weight gain for fish (i.e. shark and swordfish) may contain traces of mercury, you during your pregnancy. which can harm a baby’s developing nervous system. Healthy weight gain depends on a mom’s weight before Expectant mothers should discuss safe seafood intake with a pregnancy healthcare provider. • Moms with a normal pre-pregnancy weight typically need to • My Plate planners can help in planning healthy meals for gain 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. pregnant women. • Moms who are underweight before pregnancy typically need • Limit drinks with caffeine (colas, teas, and coffee) to one a to gain more weight during pregnancy (28-40 pounds). day. • Moms who are overweight before pregnancy typically need to • Take a daily vitamin supplement that contains folic acid gain less weight during pregnancy (11-25 pounds). and iron. Some moms need additional supplements during pregnancy. Check with your healthcare provider about your What exercise is okay in pregnancy? individual vitamin and supplement needs. Most women can safely exercise during pregnancy. Talk with your • Avoid healthcare provider about the safest exercises for you. » Excessive intake of foods that are high in fat and sugar • Check with your healthcare provider before starting a new » Raw or under cooked meat, fish, or eggs exercise activity during pregnancy. Safe exercises for pregnant » Unpasteurized cheeses, milk, and juices women may include brisk walking, swimming, stationary » Fish with high-mercury content (e.g. shark bicycling, modified yoga, or pilates. and swordfish) • Staying fit will help you have an easier labor, manage stress, » Foods preserved with nitrates (e.g. hot dogs, and get back into shape after your baby arrives. bacon, and smoked meats) • Contact your healthcare provider if you experience vaginal bleeding, contractions, shortness of breath, or other problems while exercising. 4 5 Mom’s dental care during pregnancy • Track your developing baby’s amazing changes within mom • A woman’s gum tissue changes during pregnancy from » Listen to baby’s heartbeat at 3 to 4 months. the surge of hormones in her body. Infected gums can » Feel baby kick (around 6 months). affect the fetus because bacteria from your teeth can travel » See baby in a sonogram during a prenatal checkup visit. through your bloodstream to your unborn infant. An immune response can damage the tissues in the placenta and can Exposures to consider before baby arrives cause premature labor or a lower birth-weight baby. Pull Avoid nicotine, marijuana, and other drugs. These substances can your lip down and inspect your mouth and gums for prevent the normal development of your baby. » Puffy and red gums • Tobacco: Avoid nicotine, e-cigarettes, and secondhand smoke » Tender and bleeding gums while brushing and flossing during pregnancy because exposure may » White, sticky plaque around the teeth and gums » Prevent a baby’s normal development including • As soon as you know that you are pregnant, visit your dentist potentially damaging a developing baby’s brain and lungs for an overall evaluation of your teeth and gums and a good » Increase a child’s future risk of chronic health issues cleaning. At that time, the dentist or hygienist can give you including learning problems and obesity special mouth-care tips to use during your pregnancy. • Marijuana: New scientific evidence shows that marijuana in edible, smoked, or vaped form can pose problems for your Connecting with your baby before birth baby. Start enjoying your child before your delivery! A mother’s » Smoking marijuana is a cause of low birth weight babies. connection to her baby is hard-wired through physical closeness » Marijuana exposure during pregnancy may increase the and helpful hormones. There are ways to help strengthen that risk of stillbirth and prevent a baby’s normal development. bond, and for partners to build special connections with baby, too. » THC can cross the placenta and change the growth of a baby’s developing brain. • Talk to your baby. Your newborn will begin to recognize the Babies who are exposed to THC during pregnancy have a voices of mom, dad/partner, and others even before birth. » higher risk of having learning and attention problems as • Rub your growing belly. Your newborn will be comforted by they grow older. the same touch after birth. If you have been prescribed medical marijuana by a healthcare • Read a favorite story or sing a song to your growing baby. provider, talk with your provider about alternatives to use Your developing child will likely recognize the story or song during pregnancy. and enjoy hearing it as a newborn. • Talk about your hopes and dreams for your child. Imagine what you will do together as your baby grows. AVOID ALCOHOL: Experts believe that even small amounts — one drink a day — can increase the risk of • Read information about prenatal care and parenting, take a miscarriage, developmental and learning delays, and class in parenting, or join a prenatal support group to help behavioral problems as a child grows. you prepare for the changes taking place in your life. • Buy or make something for baby that’s just from you. 6 7 • Alcohol » Babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more » Avoid alcohol in pregnancy. likely to develop » Alcohol exposure can increase your developing baby’s ◦ Ear infections risk for growth problems, developmental delays, and ◦ Allergies learning delays. ◦ Lung problems (i.e. bronchitis, pneumonia, and more » Even small amounts of alcohol use in pregnancy can be severe asthma) unsafe for your developing baby. ◦ Sudden infant death syndrome • Opioids For more information on protecting your child from secondhand » Opioid drugs include oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, smoke, go to RaiseSmokeFreeKids.com. fentanyl, and morphine. • Thirdhand smoke is the toxic stuff that is left behind long » Misusing opioids in pregnancy can cause serious after a cigarette is put out. The dangerous gases and small problems for you and for your developing baby. particles contained in cigarette smoke stick to every surface » Babies exposed to opioids in utero can develop neonatal smoke comes in contact with, like the smoker’s hair, clothing, abstinence syndrome, leading to tremors, irritability, poor furniture, and flooring. feeding, vomiting, and diarrhea after birth. » Moms with an opioid (or other substance) use disorder • The idea of thirdhand smoke is relatively new, but research should discuss their use with a healthcare provider to has shown that this health hazard is especially dangerous for help make healthy choices for themselves and their baby. infants. While crawling and playing, your baby can be exposed to the poisons on contaminated surfaces. This may include Learn about ways to quit with help from SAMHSA’s National contamination of your baby’s toys. Thirdhand smoke is a Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or at 1-800-CHILDREN. serious health risk for babies, especially for those who live in, visit, or stay at a home with smokers. Avoid exposing your baby to second and thirdhand smoke Thinking of quitting? • Quitting smoking is one of the best things a parent or Secondhand smoke is the smoke that comes from a burning caregiver can do to protect themselves and their children. smoking product or the smoke that a smoker breathes out.